It’s a number that’s hard to look past: $10 trillion. That’s the estimated annual cost to the global economy of workplace stress, poor mental health and employee disengagement and Kenya, according to new research, is very much part of the problem.
A study released by Niche Human Capital Advisory found that 87% of Kenyan workers report experiencing stress at work, a figure that has employers and HR leaders re-examining how their organizations function day to day. Regionally, the picture isn’t much better 80.4% of employees across the area report moderate to extreme workplace stress, and 67.8% describe emotional exhaustion or burnout. More than eight in ten (82.5%) say their employers should be doing more to support mental wellbeing.
“The workplace has become one of the most important determinants of organizational success,” said Rebecca Gichuki, Partner at Niche Human Capital Advisory. She argued that wellbeing has outgrown its old role as an HR side-project, becoming instead a leadership and business imperative one where investment in healthier workplaces and cultures translates directly into productivity, retention and resilience.
One response to that shift is playing out in Nairobi, where coworking operator Workable has become the first workspace in Africa to achieve the WELL Coworking Rating, issued by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) in partnership with The Instant Group. The rating recognizes spaces that meet strict, evidence-based standards for occupant health and performance.
“This certification is bigger than Workable,” said the company’s Founder and CEO, Samir Patel. “Businesses have always measured the cost of office space. Today, they also have to measure the cost of unhealthy workplaces,” he said, positioning the wellness push as a driver of innovation and long-term business growth rather than a mere perk.
To qualify, workspaces are measured against factors including air quality, lighting, thermal comfort, water quality, movement, nourishment, mental wellbeing, materials and community. The rating builds on Workable’s earlier EDGE sustainability certification and reflects a broader strategy centred on hospitality, sustainability and wellness.
Ann Marie Aguilar, IWBI’s Senior Vice President for EMEA, congratulated Workable, framing the achievement as proof that African businesses are adopting globally recognized wellness standards and reinforcing how much workplace design matters to organizational performance.
With the conversation moving from where people work to how the workplace itself shapes results, healthier office environments look set to become a genuine competitive edge one that helps businesses attract talent, boost productivity and build organizations that can weather pressure.
About Workable: Workable is a premium flexible workspace provider headquartered at Sanlam Allianz Tower in Nairobi, offering private offices, coworking memberships, meeting rooms and enterprise workspace solutions built on hospitality, sustainability and wellness.
